Sunshine In A Glass

I can't take credit for this smoothie because it is my husband's creation, but it was DARN good!! The pear and peach really added a lot of sweetness to it, and you know how I feel about creamy avocados, yum! The cucumber really makes a huge difference in the refreshing department... Try this one, you'll love it!

2 small bananas

1 avocado

1/2 cup Balkan style yoghurt

1/2 cup orange juice

1 pear

1 peach

1 cucumber

This smoothie also resulted in the 2nd most dramatic smoothie mess of our lives... Good for a laugh :) Smoothie on!

Can't Get Enough Avo

I just can't get enough, I just can't get enough.... Avocado!!! Seriously, folks, it's the most under-rated smoothie addition I've ever heard of. We need to change that! Avocados are delicious, nutty, smooth, and not to mention super-duper nutritious and also filling. All things we ask our smoothies to deliver every day, so what's the excuse? Beats me.

Try this, you'll love it, I promise.

1 small banana

1 avocado

1/2 cup balkan style yoghurt

1/2 cup frozen mixed berries

1/2 cup orange juice

1/2 cup almond milk

To reduce sugar and acidity and to add protein, I've been subbing in almond milk for half of what I'd usually use in orange juice. I've experimented with water and various types of cold tea, which also work great. What do you add to your smoothie to thin it down a little? Smoothie on!

Pretty In Pink

I wish this photo captured the fantastic colour of the smoothie a little better (I suppose we'll have to wait for my next generation iPhone for that...) because that's what I was going for more than anything in today's smoothie. Simplicity, and bright colour. It's a no-brainer, only:

1 container kefir
1 large, ripe, organic banana
1 1/2 cups frozen raspberries

I stayed basic today because I was really in the mood to enjoy the effervescence of the kefir and the tartness of the raspberries, which worked perfectly with the smooth sweetness of the banana. Now that I think of it, maybe a few leaves of mint would have been perfect here, something to try for next time...

For those of you who aren't familiar with kefir, it's fermented milk, and it's full of probiotics (more so than yoghurt, apparently). It's an acquired taste for those who aren't used to it, some think it's a bit too sour at first, but I love it. Smoothies are a great way to introduce it into the diet of the uninitiated :)

You know what I love about writing this blog? I love learning more about the stuff that I want to tell all of y'all about. I just learned, for instance, that the starter for kefir is actually called a "kefir grain" and it looks like cauliflower! Apparently it's really, really easy to make your own, it ferments in about 24 hours, and since it has yeast in it you can actually use it for baking bread. Neat, huh?? Wikipedia is of course great for a quick glimpse into whatever you would like to know about, and www.kefir.net is a pretty neat resource, though they do sell the stuff there so I wouldn't necessarily believe everything they say... What do you think of kefir? Smoothie on everyone!

All About Almonds

Today's smoothie is perfect when you need a protein boost after a work out. I love it because the almond butter adds a nice crunch, and the kefir gives it a beautiful smooth tartness. A little agave nectar or honey is just right for a touch of sweetness.



Ingredients:

Handful frozen strawberries
1 banana
1 cup almond milk
1 lug kefir
3 tbsp almond butter
1 tbsp agave nectar or honey

Did you try this one? What do you think?

You Drive Me Kefir

Let's try something new...

Papaya the Sailor Man

It's been far too long between smoothies, I'm afraid. But this morning's sure does feel great! It's pretty basic since my fridge is pretty bare, but sometimes simplicity is just what the body needs. I'd like to try this recipe again and beef it up with some avocado, or perhaps some coriander, or even some nuts. Any suggestions?

2 teeny weeny bananas
1 cup Balkan style yoghurt
1 cup papaya (ripe)
1 cup raspberries
1 cup milk

So in this smoothie I did something that I almost never do - used milk. Why don't I use milk? Dunno. But after this smoothie, I think maybe I'll try it more often, since it really adds a nice smoothness and creaminess to a smoothie. Of course vitamin D and calcium are all good things, too, and protein... The papaya and the raspberries balance really nicely. Papaya contains an enzyme called "papain" which helps digestion, though it's more concentrated when the papaya is unripe (papaya salad anyone??). It's also an excellent source of vitamin C (more than 50% of RDV), and decent source of folate (30% RDV). It's also available pretty much year- round, which is nice. How about use half of the papaya for a nice salad, and the other half a few days later for a smoothie? Genius! Smoothie on!

Pretty In Plum Plus

Ok so this might not be the most creative post I've ever made, but let's face it - sometimes the fridge just isn't that exciting. Today's smoothie is almost exactly like yesterday's smoothie, with the addition of a handful of spinach and a change of juice. In and of itself, that actually is exciting, because it just goes to show that smoothies can be totally wild and exotic, or a variation on a theme. Sometimes it's fun just to add or change one thing to a recipe to see how it affects the final product.

1 banana
1 plum
2 fennel stalks and leaves
1 apple
1 handful frozen blueberries
1/2 cup Balkan style yoghurt
1/2 cup mango orange nectar
1 handful baby spinach

In this case the mango nectar added an amazing sweetness and flavour, and the spinach brought a nice nuttiness and depth to the whole experience. I had a discussion the other day with one of my dear friends about the merits of so-called "Green Smoothies" or smoothies with the addition of veggies. Her perspective was that it was kind of like cheating, that she prefers to chew her veggies, have salads, etc. I do see her point, but after thinking about it, I came to a different conclusion. Without a green smoothie, would anyone be having a salad for breakfast? The way I see it, I am. And I think that's pretty cool. Green smoothie on!